Annapurna Sanctuary

Trip Itinerary

Day 01 Arrival at Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel by private vehicle.

Day 02 Kathmandu – Pokhara – Dhampus (1580m) 2h
Flight to Pokhara offering wonderful view of the Himalayan range including Langtang, Ganesh himal, Manaslu and Annapurna range. At Pokhara we take a private bus to reach Phedi (1100m), starting point of the trek. The trail immediately climbs up a steep staircase through forest then terraced fields till Dhampus, a Gurung village on the top of the ridge. You are rewarded with great views of Machapuchare.

Day 03 Dhampus – Deorali (2100m) – Landrung (1500m) 6h
The path goes gradually up through a forested area to Pothana then further to a short pass at Deorali where there are views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. From there it goes down through ferns and orchids forest into a huge side canyon of the Modi khola till a suspension bridge over a stream. It continues through fields and Tolka village, before reaching our lodge at Landrung, a typical Gurung village with flagstones streets.

Day 04 Landrung – Chomrong (2100m) 6h
From the village the path descends through the paved courtyards of the villageto a suspended bridge over the Modi khola, which we follow upstream. There is a steep way up to jhinu Danda on a ridge at 1600m. Then it is a long, steep climb along a treeless ridge to the top at Taglung then the trail is wider to reach Chomrong village with Hiunchuli and Annapurna South towering in front.

Day 05 Chomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2900m) 6h
Leaving Chomrong village way down a long staircase till a bridge then we walk upstream the narrow Modi Khola valley through rhododendron, oak and bamboo forest. That’s the only way to sanctuary. After Sinuwa, there are no more typical villages but many clusters of lodges to accommodate the trekkers. The trail becomes muddy through bamboo forest and ascends gradually till Himalaya hotel.

Day 06 Himalaya Hotel – Machapuchare BC (3700m) 5h 30
We continue going up, first on a rocky trail then up a steep ravine to Hinko Cave, a huge overhanging rock providing some shelter. Above Deurali we enter a broader valley allowing views of Annapurna 3, Gangapurna and the superb fish tail west face of Machapuchare, still a virgin mountain. At Machapuchare BC the mountain views are stupendous; the panorama includes Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Gangapurna and Machapuchare.

Day 07 Machapuchare BC- Sanctuary (4130m) 3h
Through alpine meadow we go up the highest point of our trek reaching the base camp of Annapurna. There are tremendous views of the near-vertical South Face of Annapurna that towers above the sanctuary to the north-west. So many peaks so close! It’s one of the best close range mountain scenery in Nepal. Unforgettable sunset and sun rise .

Day 08 Sanctuary – Doban (2510m) 6h
With regrets we have to leave that unforgettable spot to retrace our way down till Doban.

Day 09 Doban - Chomrong (2100m) 5h
Retracing back our way to Chomrong, leaving the Modi Khola valley for meeting again terraced fields. Steep staircase up to the village; after 2 days going down we had forgotten uphill walk!

Day 10 Chomrong – Ghandrung
With Annapurna South in front we go uphill then we leave the path we took at the beginning at Taglung to go through terraced fields, then we drop steeply to a river at Kimrung. A last steep way uphill to reach Ulri on a pass at 2220m, then the trail descends to Ghandrung, the largest Gurung village of the area, with its typical slate-roofed houses roofs.

Day 11 Ghandrung – Birethanti (1080m) – Pokhara
It’s our last day walk and we enjoy last wonderful views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli before going down a staircase. We walk now through a subtropical area with beautiful bougainvilleas to reach Birethanti, on the Modi river side. Our last suspension bridge and it’s flat till Naya Pul, an ugly bazaar that brings us back to civilization. We step in our private bus to reach Pokhara, city along the famous Phewa lake.

Day 12 Drive Pokhara – Kathmandu
Our private vehicle will bring us back to Kathmandu by a 200km long ride, crossing numerous villages and small cities, with Himalaya range in the background.

Day 13 Kathmandu sightseeing
Today we will visit the main shrines and Durbar Squares of Patan, Bhaktapur, a wonderful medieval city with plenty of Hindu pagodas. On our way back visit of the holiest Hindu temple of Pashupatinath along the Bagmati river where dead bodies are cremated according to Hindu religion rituals.

Day 14 Transfer to airport for return flight.